A third shipment of Venezuela aid to Cuba docked Thursday at Guillermón Moncada Port in Santiago de Cuba, bringing critical supplies to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. The delivery forms part of ongoing humanitarian collaboration under the framework of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).

The cargo includes construction materials, machinery, and essential goods such as mattresses, all of which are being distributed directly to areas affected by the storm. Local authorities are overseeing 22-hour-a-day operations to expedite delivery.

The ship joins two previous Venezuelan aid missions that have delivered nearly 8,000 tons of humanitarian supplies to Cuban communities struggling with material losses.

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Cargo includes materials for housing, infrastructure repair

The aid focuses on repairing and rebuilding homes, bridges, and roadways in the five eastern provinces hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa Cuba, which struck the region on October 29. The storm caused widespread structural damage but resulted in no reported fatalities.

Authorities in Santiago de Cuba have mobilized emergency logistics teams to unload and distribute the supplies, with special attention to urgent infrastructure needs.

This latest delivery underscores the enduring strategic alliance between Havana and Caracas, particularly within the ALBA-TCP framework. Both governments emphasized the importance of mutual support in responding to natural disasters and resisting external pressures.

In a joint effort that highlights both nations’ commitment to sovereignty and solidarity, Venezuela’s contribution was described as a continuation of its policy of mutual assistance in times of crisis.

Since the beginning of the emergency response, the Cuban and Venezuelan governments have coordinated to deploy thousands of tons of humanitarian cargo and technical assistance, affirming their shared political and social priorities.

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Venezuelan reconstruction brigades support local recovery

On Thursday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with Venezuela’s Vice Minister of Public Works, Domiciano Graterol, at the Antonio Maceo Monumental Complex in Santiago de Cuba. Graterol is leading the Venezuelan reconstruction brigades that arrived alongside the aid shipment to assist in technical evaluations and infrastructure rebuilding.

Díaz-Canel described their presence as “a gesture of brotherhood between two peoples, between two revolutions,” especially in the context of rising geopolitical tension and ongoing US pressure in the region.

During the meeting, Díaz-Canel noted that both Cuba and Venezuela are confronting a “provocative US military presence in the Caribbean,” which he warned undermines regional security and targets the Bolivarian project.

Despite these challenges, the Cuban leader praised Venezuela’s solidarity, stating that the work of the brigades reflects a shared resistance against external blockades and interference.

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Reconstruction proceeds in three structured phases

Graterol reported that reconstruction efforts are organized into three phases: an initial evaluation phase, a second phase focused on restoring essential transit points between towns, and a third phase dedicated to the repair of specific road sections, bridges, and over 100,000 homes.

He confirmed that the recently arrived shipment carries the tools and materials needed for this third phase of reconstruction.

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